Improvement in wood pavements



` 'be laid on the earth.

@anni otitis..

JOSEPH H. WILKINSON, Olf CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE Letters Patent No. 101,955, dated April 12, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN WOOD PAVEMENTS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern Y to state how horse-railway tracks are constructed to the end that those skilled in mechanics may understand the adaptation of my pavement to the same.

In the construction ot'horse-railway tracks the earth is usually removed to the depth ot' aboutten inches. 'lrenches are then made, into which sleepers, A, similar to those used in steam-railroad beds are laid. Thesesleepers are very firmly bedded.

On the sleepers parallel rail-beds, B, are placed.

Thesen-re usually about seven inches deep and ve wide.

On these rail-beds the rail-track c is made secure.

The sleepers being firmly bedded in tho ground, a .very solid foundation is secured for any substructure resting upon them.

In laying my pavement between a horse-railrozul track, I rst'remove the earth to the level of' the. sleepers. I then take, say, t'our planks, two inches thick, and mold the inneriaces ot' the two outside planks, as shown at D D, the two inside planks being molded as shown at E l". These four planks] rest on their edges on the sleepers A, and the earth between the sleepers, or whatever other substance ,nay

blocks to rest upon.

This arrangement, the strength of'the key being duly considered, plainly shows that the blocks cannot sink, while the dovetail form of the lower halt' of the blocks prevents them from rising, thereby giving vast-ly greater solidity and strength to the whole structure,

and also preserving a lunch more. even surface than by any method before devised.

I would call especial attention to thc iorm and arrangement oi' the key-planks, as, owing to their depth with respect to their blocks, and the shoulder formed upon them, they form an unusually strong and powerful means ot' sustaining the thrust and concussion upon the blocks.

In 1manufacturingmy pavement, it can be made of any desired length and width for laying down in sections, and which, while each section would be formed ot' many blocks and continuous keys, yet each section becomes an intrcgral whole.

It will further be observed that the blocks are provided with a V-shaped groove in the upper halt', and spaces left between the blocks and keys in the lower half. This arrangement is to allow ot' expansion consequent upon rains, Jvc. I design filling the grooves with gravel and other material that will not set hard, except upon the surface, so that when the expansion takes place, the filling will yield. Ihe grooves also serve as a preventive to horses slipping. Then a horse loses his footing, he always places his foot outward diagonally with the length ofthe street, and seeks a bracing position. ln this caso the` disposition ot' gri'ioves aids him very much.

\\'hile my improvement requires that each set of blocks between neach two keys shall be of the samev width, (my keys being continnous,) it is not requisite that they be ofthe same thickness, but may be varied in thickness, as an economical working ot' the wood might render necessary or expedient.

It will be observed that the section does not quite ill the space between the railway-beds.l The space left is i'or the facility of laying down and for reception ofthe same material that goes between the V-shaped grooves and other spaces, thus making another provision for expansion. Y

I do not claim having invented a wood pavement formed oi' blocks of wood and keys to hold the same; but l 'hat I do claim, is- The series oi' longitudinal keys, cach'formed with a tongue extending to, or nearly to, the surface of the blocks, shoulders to support thc blocks and tapering from the shoulders to the base, in combination with blocks formed to tit said keys, as herein described, thc keys being supported upon the sleepers or other substructure, as set fortlr Witnesses: JOSEPH Il. \VILKINSON.

R-nUnEN HA'woRTH, Sr., Itnl'nnx HAwoRTn, Jr. 

